Yearbook 2008 Monaco. The election to the National Council, the Legislative Assembly, held in February did not lead to any changes in the composition of the Council. While the Union for Monaco (UPM) received a slightly lower voter turnout than in the previous election, 52 percent was enough to retain 21 of the 24 seats….
Category: Europe
Europe – temperatures in July
In addition to the maritime influence on the climate in Europe, the decrease in radiation energy from south to north leads to a characteristic zonal temperature distribution, ie a temperature distribution parallel to the circle of latitudewhich is particularly evident in the summer half of the year (July). Because of the predominantly positive radiation balance, the map shows a north-south change in the July temperature over large parts of Europe. The comparatively cool water masses of the Atlantic have a dampening effect, so that the July isotherms over western and northwestern Europe are shifted to the south. While in Eastern Europe, for example, average July temperatures of 20 ° C are still reached north of the 60th parallel, this value is already below this value on the Atlantic coast at the 50th parallel because the prevailing westerly winds here from the ocean transport relatively cool air masses.
Europe has a share in three climatic zones: the subtropics, the middle latitudes and the polar region.
The highest temperatures are achieved in the fully arid areas of the subtropics as a result of the stronger solar radiation and the largely lack of cloud cover. Average temperatures in July generally exceed 30 ° C in the interior of North Africa and Asia. The lowest July temperatures in Europe are reached in northern Scandinavia and Iceland (monthly mean 5 to 10 ° C). As in winter, in summer the altitude of the mountains stand out as cooler climatic islands. For more information about the continent of Europe, please check physicscat.com.
Moldova 2008
Yearbook 2008 Moldova. In March, after seven years as prime minister, Vasile Tarlev was replaced by former Finance Minister Zinaida Grecianii, who thus became M’s first female head of government. Grecianii emphasized the importance of freedom of the press, active dialogue with citizens and the independence of the judiciary. In April, Moldovas president and leader…
Malta 2008
Yearbook 2008 Malta. On 1 January, Malta introduced the euro and thus became the fifteenth country to participate in EU currency cooperation. In the election campaign ahead of the March 8 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi pressed on the reigning Nationalist Party’s successful economic policies, including reducing the budget deficit and reducing unemployment. The…
Luxembourg 2008
Yearbook 2008 Luxembourg. Parliament adopted a law on euthanasia in February, with the numbers 30 to 26. But Grand Duke Henri opposed the law with reference to his Catholic faith. Thus, a constitutional crisis arose because the signature of the head of state was required for the law to come into force. The result was…
Lithuania 2008
Yearbook 2008 Lithuania. After several years of unsuccessful negotiations, Lithuania and Poland agreed in February to connect the countries’ electricity networks through the construction of a new power line. It is planned to be completed sometime between 2012 and 2015. At the same time, Lithuania tried during the year to accelerate the plans for an…
Liechtenstein 2008
Yearbook 2008 Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein’s reputation as a tax haven was reinforced in February when it emerged that hundreds of well-to-do Germans were being investigated for tax crimes in their home country when they were suspected of hiding large sums on secret accounts in Liechtenstein had purchased stolen information about the accounts from a former bank…
Latvia 2008
Yearbook 2008 Latvia. The popular dissatisfaction with the government in the wave of protests last autumn continued. At the beginning of the year, the trade union movement led to a constitutional amendment that would allow the people to take the initiative to dissolve parliament and thus new elections. The proposal received over 200,000 signatures and…
Kosovo 2008
Yearbook 2008 Kosovo. At the beginning of the year, Kosovo was formally a Serbian province, placed under UN administration. During the year, the Albanian majority declared an independent state. By the end of the year, Kosovo was a divided country with some unclear status; only 52 of the world’s nations had recognized the new state….
Italy 2008
Yearbook 2008 Italy. Italy’s left-center government, led by Prime Minister Romano Prodi, fell on January 24 after losing a vote in the Senate. The government’s case was preceded by Justice Minister Clemente Mastella being forced to resign in the middle of the month as a result of corruption suspicions against him and his wife. Mastella’s…
Ireland 2008
Yearbook 2008 Ireland. Bertie Ahern resigned as prime minister in May after eleven years in the post. Finance Minister Brian Cowen took over both as head of government and leader of Fianna Fáil. One reason Ahern resigned now was concern that criticism of his private affairs would affect the outcome of the referendum on the…